Correcting pH level

Hi! I have a 90 gal fowlr set-up that's a month old. After it cycled 3 weeks ago I added a sunburst butterfly, a blue tang, and a pair of clowns to my damsel (the damsel has been in tank since I started cycling). I've been religiously checking ammonia (0), nitrite (0), and nitrate (20) but I've only checked the pH twice. Both times the reading came up to the lowest level (7.2). I haven't had luck in raising clowns (3 died on me already) and I was wondering if this is in part the problem.

Anyway, I would like to know if I should raise the pH (given that the remaining fish seem to be ok) and if it is safe to do so. I'm worried that if the fish are already accustomed to this level, changing the pH will do more harm than good at this stage. Subsequently, if the advice is to change what will be the best way to do it?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

Do you have an overflow and a sump? If not, do you have a powerhead rippling the surface of the water to help offgas excess CO2? Do you have a glass lid on this tank?

 

Are you saying that your tank cycled in one week? If so, my guess would be that you're not cycled. Adding that much livestock at once will cause a jump in your nitrates and require more oxygen in the tank. Low levels of oxygen will bring down the PH. It also depend on when you check the PH since the lighting cycle affects it as well (lower PH with lights off).

My suggestion would be to trade some of your fish back to your LFS, get your tank to finish its cycle and then add a fish every 1-2 weeks.

 

No on the sump and glass lid, yes on the powerhead

 

Oh, let me correct. It took 3 weeks

 

3 weeks still seems awfully fast. i was told at minimum 6 weeks, and better to wait 8 before stocking with fish. and as slocal said, add them well spaced out.

 

A 90G tank will tank about 2-3 months to properly cycle. Your pH is off because of the nitrifying cycle in the tank. The ammonia is causing the pH to drop. You don't have enough oxygen and bacteria in the tank to sustain all the life in your system right now. Your carbonates are being used up by the cycling rock among a lot of other reasons. Give it time. if anything dies in the tank, just let it be and let your tank cycle, do not replace the fish for a while.

 

Thats funny my 75 gallon tank cycled in I believe 2 weeks. Now I'm not claiming to be an expert but everyone's tank will cycle at different rates.
I started my tank with all dry rock, threw 3 Chromis's is the tank and didn't see any form of cycle. The next week I placed 6 deli shrimp in my sump and 2 days later my ammonia spiked and dropped then Nitrites took over and then followed by the Nitrates.
Now I am 2 months into my tank and my levels have all remained at zero. PH is maintained at 8.2 with my DKH at 10 and my Ca at 440.
I still have the same 3 Chromis's and now have 4 Percula Clowns, a beautiful Blue Hippo Tang, Lawnmower Blenny,Cleaner shrimp and various snails and hermit crabs.


Sorry to vent but all I ever read is that no tank can cycle in that amount of time.

 

your not venting Tormentor and IMO you are correct in what you are saying, there are no hard and fast rules
I have had tanks cycle quickly - less than 4 weeks from 0 Amonnia to 5ppm and back down to 0
I have had tanks where the peak came after 4 weeks
its about how quickly the bacteria levels can be established to deal with the wastes, method used to cycle also determines rate of cycle.

much of the advice on this site and other sites is directed at new comers to the hobby, who may mistake a 0 reading on test kits, as indicating a tank has cycled, when in reality, the cycle may not have even started

you can imagine the problems that would cause, people adding more fish and then the tank starts to cycle - with your hardy chromis in the tank, you where OK when the decaying shrimps started in earnest the bacteria bloom, but if after 2 weeks with a YTB for example, 0 readings where taken as a sign of a cycled tank and the next fish was a more delicate species?


Steve

 

much of the advice on this site and other sites is directed at new comers to the hobby, who may mistake a 0 reading on test kits, as indicating a tank has cycled, when in reality, the cycle may not have even started

you can imagine the problems that would cause, people adding more fish and then the tank starts to cycle - with your hardy chromis in the tank, you where OK when the decaying shrimps started in earnest the bacteria bloom, but if after 2 weeks with a YTB for example, 0 readings where taken as a sign of a cycled tank and the next fish was a more delicate species?


Steve[/quote]

Very good information Steve, as for a new comer as I am, I made sure to read everything along with post questions regarding the cycle. As for when the tank cycles all I can say is pay close attention to the parameters DAILY so you can monitor it.
As for adding new fish to the tank I always wait 1 to 2 weeks between new additions to make sure the mini cycle it may go through is complete.

The key to this hobby is to go at it slow and do your homework.